Interview with Jillian Roring, the heroine of The Ice Captain’s Daughter

Tooling around London today, I had the pleasure to have tea with a sweet young lady who I’m sure many of you have heard of her before: Jillian Roring. She’s the daughter of the infamous Ice Captain. Well, you know how the London gossips can be so I thought, while I was able to have her as a captive audience, I’d get the real scoop. Here’s what she (and her pal author Suzanne G. Rogers) told me…

Hi Jillian! Thanks for being here. I know you’ve had a heck of a time recently, so I appreciate it.

Jillian Roring: Yes, thank you, Miss Revezzo. I have had a rather adventuresome time of it, but fortunately my scar is now barely visible at all.

Glad to hear you’re doing better. Why don’t you tell us how it all started? You were heading to your very first Season in London, but something sidetracked those plans, I hear?

Jillian: My story seems unbelievable to me, as I sit here in this warm, comfortable drawing room, but my carriage was actually waylaid by a highwayman! I could scarcely believe it, since it’s 1899 and highwaymen rarely appear anymore.

Shocking, you’re right! Who woulda thought? Thank God for Mackenzie Logan! Speaking of the gentleman, what’d you really think of Mackenzie when he first showed up? Seems to me you’re a resourceful girl. You almost had that brigand in hand.

Jillian: I’m not a sea captain’s daughter for nothing! I was determined to escape the lout, and almost did… until he grabbed the back of my skirt and held me fast. The blackguard was pulling back toward the woods when Mr. Logan appeared with a shotgun. Although Mr. Logan looked a bit like a wooly bear at that point, I was ever so glad to see him.

Awww….he’s more teddy bear than wooly bear, I’m sure! What’d you think when you first heard the rumors of Mackenzie’s philandering?

Jillian: The rumors rather put me off, to be completely honest. Although I must admit, after Mr. Logan had shaved off his beard and changed his clothes, I could scarcely stop looking at him.

Oh yeah. I mean who wouldn’t? He’s so cute!!! Now for a wicked question: If you could go and choose any of his friends, which would it be?

Jillian: Mr. Hawkins, who is Mr. Logan’s particular friend and neighbor, is a gentlemanly sort of man, and pleasant company. Please don’t tell anyone, but my feelings for him could never be quite so warm as they are for Mr. Logan.

Your secret’s safe with…oops! I guess not! Sorry. At any rate, you’re no stranger to the papers are you? The gossip about your father for instance, the Ice Captain, is quite intriguing, tell us the truth, is he as infamous as he seems?

Jillian: I’m given to understand from my Aunt Letty, that the ladies were simply mad for him during the Season he met my mother. His fair coloring and handsome good looks have something to do with it! Plus, I think there’s something about a sea captain that sets the imagination on fire.

Oh, I agree. Finally, the papers have been buzzing about you two lately, care to divulge any future plans between you and Mackenzie?

Jillian: Oh, Miss Revezzo! Despite my regard for you, I beg you not to force a confidence.

Oh all right. I won’t twist your arm.

Jillian: I am determined, however, not to marry unless it is to a man who adores me as much as my father adored my mother.

Honestly, I agree. That is the best way to go. ;) So we’ll just hope it’s with Mackenzie. Dreamy gentleman that he is. And one for your creatrix: S.G. dear what are we really looking forward to in Jillian and Mackenzie’s future? Can you give us a hint? And for those who haven’t read The Ice Captain’s Daughter, care to give us a little taste?

S.G. Rogers: It’s so hard for young ladies and gentlemen in London society, especially when they aren’t prepared for interference from gossips and rivals… most especially from scheming former fiancées such as Sophia Watkins! Here’s a small preview, so you can see what I mean for yourself:

Excerpt:
“Your papa…he’s the Ice Captain, is he not?” Sophia asked.

Jillian smiled. The nickname never failed to delight her. “Yes.”

“You might not want to mention that to anyone else.”

“Why not?”

Sophia wrinkled her pert nose. “I’m sure he’s a very good sort of man but importing ice is an awful lot like being in trade.”

Shocked, Jillian didn’t know how to respond. Sophia mistook her expression for fear.

“Oh, don’t worry. We’re friends, so your secret is safe with me.”

“I thank you, truly, but I don’t have anything to conceal as far as my father is concerned.”

Sophie gave Jillian a pretty little pout, as if she were a small child who’d just been caught doing something naughty. “Please don’t be vexed with me. Mama says I blurt out truths in an unvarnished fashion and it’s frightfully rude.

****

Sophia sounds like a complete…erm, not very nice person! I’m sure, Jillian, you will get the upper hand eventually! Thanks for spending some time with me today.

Folks, I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I! Here’s just a tad more about Jillian’s story.

The daughter of a wealthy ice merchant, Miss Jillian Roring intends to marry for love. En route to her first Season in London, however, a failed kidnapping sends her into the arms of the most jaded bachelor in England. When Logan and Jillian unwittingly violate the rigid rules of propriety in Victorian-era England, he is obliged to make her an offer of marriage. Because she aspires to be more than an obligation, Jillian refuses the match. Logan follows her to London to woo her properly, but his scheming ex-fiancée has other plans.

Can Logan convince Jillian that his love for her is real or will the cruel gossip and sharp tongues of London society tear their budding relationship apart?

If you’d like to check out Jillian’s story it’s available for Kindle at Amazon and Smashwords for other ereaders, and for more of Suzanne G. Rogers’ fine works you can check out her website at: http://childofyden.wordpress.com
*~*~*~*
Juli D. Revezzo has written the Victorian romance novel WATCHMAKER'S HEART. Check it out at Amazon.

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My Mailing List

Well, by now y'all know I am a writer as well as a reader. I have three books out currently (well, okay, a book and a novella and a short story) with two at least coming next year. That said, If you are interested at all in my literary works, please do sign up for my mailing list. :) I use it very infrequently, and will never give out your email addresses. So no need to worry there. But if you'd like to know when my current releases are due, be in the know before your pals ;), and maybe win some freebies sometime (for instance I offered a free copy of Caitlin's Book of Shadows to my subscribers before its release), please sign up.

You can do so at the following Subscribe to my Mailing List or see the links in my sidebar.

Thanks for your time. Have a lovely Sunday!

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Suzanne G. Rogers--The Need for Mead

Today, I have another special treat for you. Talented Fantasy YA author Suzanne G. Rogers has come to talk a little bit about her new book, DANI & THE IMMORTALS –ooh, and do I see something interesting in her hands, why, yes! Come on up to the mic, dear. Don’t worry, parents, we’ve got goodies for your little ones too. I think they’ll like this book.

Go ahead,  Suzanne.  Tells us a little bit about what you’ve brought.

The Need for Mead

by

Suzanne G. Rogers

Mead; photo credit: Grapetonix,
CC Attribution, Tobias Radeskog

Throughout Norse mythology, many references are made to mead. This nectar of the gods was so highly prized it was on the menu at Valhalla, served by no less than the lovely Valkyrie. Death isn’t so bad when you can belly up to the bar afterwards for a horn of lip-smacking deliciousness, right?
Mead, also called honey wine, is viewed as the Father of Fermentation. It’s not quite as old as dirt, but it dates back to around 7000 BC. Basic mead is produced by fermenting a solution of water and honey. No meadery around the corner? No problem. Brew your own, at home, with this time-tested recipe:
First, use rainwater kept for several years;
Next, measure out a sextarius (which is one sixth of a congius) of water;
Mix the water with a pound of honey;
Expose the mixture to sunlight for 40 days, and then leave on a shelf near the fire.
(If you’re out of rainwater, boiled spring water may be used as a substitute in a pinch)
(Recipe courtesy of Columella, De Re Rustica, AD 60.)
I don’t know about you, but if it’s good enough for Odin, it’s good enough for me.
~ Suzanne G. Rogers

Here here! For those of us who don’t imbibe alcohol, I wonder what a non-alcoholic version might taste like–just a bit of honey and rain water? Mmm…..honey. How about an excerpt of your book, Suzanne?

Synopsis:

After Dani is kidnapped by Odin’s Ravens and taken to Asgard, she becomes enmeshed in a quarrel between immortals. Worse, when the theft of a magical artifact becomes an explosive political debacle, accusations of blame turn her into an outlaw. To avert disaster, she must undertake a dangerous quest involving ogres, dark fairies, and underworld criminals. Ultimately, however, she'll have to defy Odin himself.

Excerpt:
“Right. How about you trade me the magical shield in your pocket for directions to the Rainbow Bridge?”
Dani peered at him. So Rein had been watching her and the Ravens. Although she wasn’t about to give up the brooch, maybe she could strike another bargain with him. According to The Asgard Adventure, elves were supposed to love challenges.
“No deal,” she said. “But I challenge you to hand-to-hand combat. If I win, you show me how to find the Rainbow Bridge. If I lose, the shield is yours and I’ll be on my way.”
The band of elves hooted and hollered in derision, but Rein grinned.
“You’re on,” he said. “Do I get my choice of weapons?”
“No weapons,” Dani said.
“No weapons?” he scoffed. “Fine. I’ll try not to hurt you too much.”
“That’s excellent,” she replied, tossing her backpack to the ground. “I don’t enjoy pain.”

****

DANI & THE IMMORTALS  is available in all formats from Amazon.
Author links:
Blog: www.childofyden.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneGRogers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/suzannegrogers

Thanks for being with us, Suzanne. Good luck with DANI & THE IMMORTALS! It sounds fun. Now, about that bottle next to you…..

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Author Q and A with romance suspense author Rachel Brimble

author Rachel Brimble

Yes, that's right. I'm hosting Romantic Suspense author Rachel Brimble today. You can find our Q and A on my other blog, here. Oh, and did I mention? She's giving away a copy of one of her backlist books to one lucky commenter. So pop on by!

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Q and A with historical romance author Virginia Henley

Also, if you are curious, I've just posted a Q and A with author Virginia Henley over at the Examiner. You can see that here.

Thanks and enjoy!

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Guest Post: Patty G. Henderson

Today we have a treat for our readers. Supernatural mystery author Patty G. Henderson gave us a little of her time recently, and as a result, we have a Q and A for you, and a giveaway. :) Read below to find out what she said when we asked her to tell us about her Brenda Strange series, and the latest title Ximora.

What was the inspiration for Ximora?

Patty: My Brenda Strange series is a blend of my love for the mystery genre and also for my roots and love of the horror/supernatural genre. I always decide what interesting topic in the supernatural realm that might make a good case for Brenda to get involved in. For XIMORA, I’ve always had a fascination with giant statues or just statues that come to life and threaten the populace in general, so I figured why not combine that with a bit of the Pygmalion and Galatea and ancient Greek and Amazon warrior mythology and have some fun.

What kind of research did you have to do, in order to write the book?

Patty: I spent lots of time online researching Amazon lore and myth as well as making use of some of my books on Amazon names and legends and Greek mythology.

Who's your favorite character in this particular book?

Patty: Well, Brenda Strange is one of my fave characters of all my creations, but I think in this book, I really enjoyed meeting the Winters side of Brenda’s family and especially the delightfully deceptive and wicked cousin Cecily. And I like getting to know the tender side of Detective Lisa Chambliss. And who can not love Cubbie? LOL. Okay, you see, I love all the characters.

What's next for you, now that Ximora is out?

Patty: I love this question because I love talking books. I have lots of irons in the fire and I honestly don’t know which one will be the first one to emerge. LOL. I’m getting the most progress with my new Gothic Romantic Suspense, THE SECRET OF LIGHTHOUSE POINTE. This book is a real deviation for me because I’ve been writing supernatural and horror literature since the 1970s and couldn’t stop writing in the genre even if I wanted to….which I don’t. But I wanted to try my hand at something a little bit different. I have always had a love affair with those old paperbacks from the 1960s that were all over bookstores, drugstores and anyplace that sold paperbacks with gloomy, dark castles in the background and a damsel in distress in the forefront, trying desperately to escape. You’d have to read the book to find out what she was running away from, but usually some brooding bad guy. These were short books, slim on characterization and heavy on the plot and suspense, atmosphere and mystery. Most of them didn’t involve the supernatural but some did have ghosts and some were historicals, set in the past. THE SECRET OF LIGHTHOUSE POINTE will be different in that the brooding, good looking guy that eventually comes to the rescue will be a woman. I write fiction for the lesbian reading community and thought this might be a welcome respite from my horror books and offer a different take on the old Gothic Romances.

Awesome! I'll be looking forward to that. :)

Patty: I’m also hoping to keep working on the next Brenda Strange book, THE SHADOWS. I’ll be introducing an interesting group of bizarre women in the story along with the usual cast of characters like the ghosts Angelique and Carlotta, Cubbie, Eddy and the intrepid Detective Lisa Chambliss. And I’m still plugging away, although at a slower pace, on the second Karnov vampire book, THE BLOOD RUNS COLD. So you see, aren’t you sorry you asked the question? LOL.

(blog mistress note: No, I am not, actually. :) I'll be looking forward to reading them!)

What's a good writing day like for you?

Patty: A good writing day is any day I write. I find that I’m writing less now that I’m out of work than I was writing when I worked a full time job. I think it just boils down to routine and regiment. I’ve taken to heading out to the library in the early part of the day and getting some writing down on paper. I never write a book the same way. Some of my books have been written almost entirely on the computer or keyboard while others, I like to write on a yellow notepad first with a pen or pencil and then transfer over. I’m enjoying scribbling on paper for THE SECRET OF LIGHTHOUSE POINTE. Because I take care of my mom full time, I can only write when I get the chance to find that inner Muse and a peaceful place to write. I have to recipe or advice on writing.

Oh, my! Sounds really interesting! So, what type of books do you like to read, for your own enjoyment?

Patty: I still enjoy a good supernatural thriller but also pick up lots of cozy and historical mystery books. I don’t read romances or much literary stuff. Political books are a real interest for me.

And, if you had to have a particular paranormal power (like Brenda does) what would it be--aside from, you know, saving the world? ;)

Patty: A very interesting question. Since Brenda, with the publication of XIMORA, has now picked up some extraordinary new powers, I think I would like the power to heal like she did in the book. Even though the power has the potential to affect her negatively, who wouldn’t want to save a life?

And, finally, what can your fans expect from you, in the future?

Patty: Exciting things. I’m all over the place. Besides all the books I’m working on, I’ve also jumped into publishing. Check out my Black Car Publishing web site at: http://www.blackcarpublishing.yolasite.com/ for all the information. I also continue to offer my graphic services for custom book cover creations. Please check out my online portfolio at: http://boulevardphotografica.blogspot.com/ for a look at some of the covers I’ve done. And I’ve also recently done a movie poster for a local movie maker.

So you're one busy gal! Cool. :) We'll be looking forward to all that. Anything else to add, before we go, Patty?

Patty: Don’t forget to check out my author web site: www.pattyghenderson.com and also my blog, The Henderson Files: http://thehendersonfiles.blogspot.com/ Thank you, Juli, for the opportunity to have some fun with the questions.

You're most welcome. Drop by anytime, Patty. :) And thank you for your time, and the wonderful Brenda Strange series. As ever, we wish you all the best with it!


Folks, would you like to win a copy of Ximora and some pretty bookmarks? Then see the Ximora giveaway post for details on how to do that. Giveaway closes Wednesday night. Good luck!


:) There you are. We hope you’ve enjoyed this chat, and good luck to all who enter the giveaway!

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Melissa Marr's Fragile Eternity

Fragile Eternity
by Melissa Marr
Book Three in the Wicked Lovely Series
(my review copy was borrowed from a friend's personal library)

I finally finished this one, and so thought I'd share my review with you.

Fragile Eternity is the second volume in Melissa Marr’s best selling, very popular Wicked Lovely Young Adult fantasy series. The story concerns Aislinn’s continuing adjustment to being once-mortal, now Faery, and Summer Queen to Keenan, the Summer king. But trouble’s brewing as the Dark Faery Bananach insists on war, between the Summer Courts, the Winter Courts, and the Dark Court of which she is a part. Meanwhile, human Seth is still trying to come to grips with his love for Aislinn, and having to share her with Keenan, who wishes to have more than just a professional relationship with Aislinn, for the good of the faery of the Summer Court.

Despite Aislinn’s best efforts, and despite the warnings of his friend, the Dark King, Niall, Seth and Aislinn can’t seem to get over the fact that all Aislinn’s human friends and family are destined, as mortals, to die. And for Seth, the truth of being a mortal means one more thing: that when he’s gone, Keenan will finally have Aislinn the way he wishes.

Rumor has it, though that there is a way for Seth to bypass all this. And as the Summer and Winter Courts bickering becomes more and more intense, as summer waxes and wanes, being the good, worried sister of the Dark King that she is, Bananach takes her advantage and tells Seth exactly how he can do that. Stupid human that he is, he listens.

Will Seth get what he wants? Will Keenan? Or Bananach and Niall? What will happen as war looms? You’ll have to read to find out.

So, what did I think of it? I loved it. Well, it’s hard to believe Seth and Aislinn are only sixteen, for one (except for in certain instances that fact’s easy to forget); I think the world is entirely unique, the fairies are, as well, and the novel was very well written. I personally liked the Dark Court; Aislinn did have problems with being a fae, and I had to wonder, how could being a faery be bad? Read the book. You’ll see. ;)

However, I’ll warn you, Fragile Eternity seems to continue its plot from where Wicked Lovely left off, and really seems to rely on knowledge of that first book. So it was a little confusing at first. I had to go out and find a copy of Wicked Lovely and read a little of it, to figure out what was going on. If that’s not enough, it was harder to find, new and used, it seems. If you can find a copy, at any Borders or Barnes and Noble, you should be able to get it in their YA section, if they don’t have it, it’s so new, they can probably order it for you with no trouble. But I did have some trouble--heck, I couldn't even get it out of the library. In the end, I had to borrow this one from a good friend in order to read it, (and you know who you are and thanks for the trip to the post office for my little reading obsessions!). Yes, it’s that popular. If all else fails, there’s always Amazon. Wherever you get your copy, if you’re a fan of fantasy, faeries, urban fantasy, strange new worlds do check it out.

my grade for this one?

And I have posted this review here on the Examiner, if you care to give it a hit.

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Amy Tan visits Tampa.

This is too cool. Amy Tan's going to be in Tampa. I wrote it up for the Examiner, here. If you're in town and want to see what she's doing. I just love her work--what I've read of it. :)

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A scavenger hunt

Romance and Erotica author Tina Donahue is guest posting at Katie Babs' lovely Babbling about Books today, where she offers up thoughts on Alpha Males, and an excerpt from her new Ellora's Cave novel, Lush Velvet Nights. In addtion to that, she's also hosting a scavenger hunt. Go here to read all about it, and if you try the hunt, good luck!

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Melissa Marr tour dates

Any Melissa Marr fans, here? She's on tour right now in support of her soon to be released novel Radiant Shadows, you know, from what I hear. I have this list of dates, and thought someone of my readers might find it useful:

DENVER, CO April 22, 2010: Tattered Cover Book Store; 7:00 pm

LEXINGTON, KY April 23, 2010: Joseph-Beth Booksellers; 7:00 pm


ST. LOUIS, MO April 24, 2010: St. Louis County Library; 7:00 pm

BOSTON, MA April 26, 2010: Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, MA; 7:00 pm


COLUMBUS, OH April 28 – May 2, 2010: Romantic Times Convention

CLEVELAND, OH May 12, 2010: Joseph-Beth Booksellers; 7:00 pm

PHILADELPHIA, PA May 14, 2010: Chester County Book Store, West Chester, PA; 7:00 pm

RICHMOND, VA May 15, 2010: The Fountain Bookstore; 2:00 pm

That's all I know so far. :( Unfortunately, it doesn't look like she'll be coming anywhere close to me, but I hope someone else out there gets to meet her. Have fun!

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Susan McBride Q and A

And just to continue the theme, Susan McBride graciously participated in my Examiner Q and A series. If you'd like to take a peek at that, you may find it here. Enjoy!

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Guest blog: Susan McBride

This blog has been on the back burner for awhile, and I'd like to thank Susan McBride for being such a good sport about all the delays. :) Her new book, I have to say, was probably one of the cutest I've read in a while. (Sure helped get me through jury duty *cough* though I can only imagine what people thought seeing me read it, hehe.)

We hashed out a nice post and contest for my readers. And I've really enjoyed speaking with Susan, the last few (thanks, Susan!). And so...now, without further ado, I'm turning the mike over, so...please welcome, Susan McBride!
***

You Can’t Judge a Cougar by Her Stripes
by Susan McBride

Yes, I know: real cougars don’t have stripes or spots (not the animal kind anyway). They’ve got gold fur and big paws and think Ashton Kutcher would be mighty tasty for breakfast. But I digress. What I want to talk about are the misconceptions about THE COUGAR CLUB, my debut in women’s fiction that came out on February 1. For the first time in my career—after five humorous mysteries and two young adult novels—I saw ugly comments online about a book I wrote even before it came out, stuff like, “Do I really have to assign a book called THE COUGAR CLUB?” (Girl Scout’s honor, that’s a real Tweet from the fiction editor of a venerable publishing trade magazine, which didn’t end up reviewing COUGAR as promised.) And there were remarks along the lines of, “How dare this woman write such filth! How demeaning to her sex! This belongs in the DUMP.” (I’m paraphrasing, but the writer of one of those nasty pre-pub comments on my local newspaper’s site did capitalize “dump,” and I did envision her screaming while she typed it.)

I started to wonder if anyone truly believed the old maxim that you can’t judge a book by its cover anymore, because people were judging THE COUGAR CLUB before it even made its way onto bookshelves. Honestly, I never imagined that a word like “Cougar” could stir up such negative emotions. I’m a 45 year old woman married to a 36 year old guy, so I’ve been called a Cougar since our first date five years ago. Maybe I’m weird, but I found it funny, not insulting. I never hung out at watering holes in my leopard print hot-pants, on the prowl for a nubile frat boy. I’m more of an “accidental Cougar,” I guess, since meeting Ed happened purely by chance.

I think that’s what makes writing so much fun for me. I love busting stereotypes, in real-life and on the pages of a book. The women in THE COUGAR CLUB aren’t certified, card-carrying Cougars any more than I am (well, except maybe for Carla, who’s as much a Diva as a Cougar). Creating the characters in THE COUGAR CLUB—Kat, Carla, and Elise—gave me the opportunity to show the world how viable and amazing three 45-year-old women can be, even when their respective mid-life crises try to trip them up. I wanted these lifelong friends to reconnect at a time when they need each other most. As the book begins, Kat’s a successful ad agency exec, Carla’s a beloved anchorwoman, and Elise is a dermatologist with a thriving practice. Then Kat gets down-sized, Carla realizes the station’s GM is about to replace her with a newer model, and empty-nester Elise believes her plastic surgeon husband has lost interest.

The story is driven by their relationship to one another and the support they lend each other, through thick and thin. They live by the motto that you’re never too old to follow your heart while struggling with being middle-aged in a society that doesn’t treat middle-age kindly. Like so many of us, they’re seeking passion, in their careers and in love; and each of them, in different ways, finds it.

As a woman who found true love after forty and whose career came into full bloom after forty, too, it’s my great hope that readers of THE COUGAR CLUB will look past the C-word in the title (if it offends them!) and discover the humor and warmth that form the gooey caramel goodness at the center of the book. COUGAR isn’t so much about, well, Cougars as it is about celebrating life at any age. As Kat Maguire puts it:

Aging gracefully isn’t about aging gratefully. It’s about living life with your engine on overdrive, making love with all the lights on, trashing your diet books, and diving into the chocolate cake.

To that, I say “Amen!”
***
Me too! So, for a couple more things here; the contest: To enter, please leave a comment, and your email address so I can contact you if you're chosen (your name-at-host.com is fine;and, US and Canada snail mail addresses only, please). And if you have not, please Follow Café Pearl with the google follow button to the right there. After all that's done, I'll pick the winner on Wednesday morning. :) Good luck!


All righty, a few more things. You have seen her book cover, right?

And how about Susan's cute videos?

on The Cougar Club:





and an interview with Susan McBride conducted by LipstickNLaundry





:) Cute huh? Well, go check out her new novel (links are in the Amazon banner to the right, or ...wherever you usually buy books. And...Thanks again to Susan McBride for the great post (and lastly to Jessica Rabbit for introducing us!). :)And thank you for reading. I hope you've enjoyed this guest spot!

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Guest Blogger: Susan Kearney

Today we have a special treat for you: Romance author Susan Kearney, author of several titles, including the latest series, the fabulous futuristic SF Romance The Pendragon Legacy, has a little guest post concerning what she loves about both genres, and how she came to write this series. So, grab some coffee, make sure the Tribbles are all locked up, ;) and enjoy this special presentation. :)

I like to write futuristic romance because it combines two of my favorite subjects: Romance and Science Fiction. Obviously lots of folks who enjoyed Avatar, Independence Day and the Star Wars sagas agree. I believe the appeal of this genre is the element of what if? What if we really could go into space? What will we find out there and who will we wish to spend our lives with in this new universe?


To me one of the most exciting times in life is when we find the right person for us. The person. The one we want to share our future with. That person is not always the one we imagined. For example in JORDAN, the title and hero of this story, has already lived for centuries. He doesn’t want to fall in love. He has no intention of falling in love . . . and yet. Falling in love is not always a choice. Sometimes, it just happens. And that’s what is so much fun about writing these kinds of books. We can find love anywhere—even when we aren’t looking.

And sometimes shared danger can up the old human hormones, creating that special chemistry that might not have sparked and ignited under different circumstances. In Jordan, the heroine is a self-made woman who builds spaceships. Under ordinary circumstances she wouldn’t fall for one of her employees, but when the two of them are thrown together under the most dire of circumstances, they must unite to succeed—for the sake of everyone on Earth. Working together, placing their lives in one another’s hands, creates a level of trust . . . a trust that’s oh so necessary for them to succeed.

As for the science fiction elements, as a child I watched Star Trek and read extensively in the genre. So combining the elements of love and space exploration is a natural. Tying those elements together with Arthurian legend was a bonus. Yes, it taxed the imagination. And let’s be real, this isn’t the kind of fiction that’s ever going to happen. But, the Pendragon Legacy series of LUCAN, RION, and JORDAN entertained me for months while I wrote them. And I hope they will entertain you as you read them. For a free excerpt and a few video go to http://www.susankearney.com/.

PS. On my interview page, you can see me in space. :)

Thank you, Susan, for sharing with us today! We wish you all the best of luck with JORDAN, and whatever comes your way, in the future! :)

Want to see something nifty? How about some covers:

and would you like a few videos? The trailer for LUCAN:




And one for RION, starring Susan Kearney, herself. :)





  And, if you'd like to leave a comment for Susan, a copy of JORDAN will be given away to one of the lucky ones. :) (I'll pick the winner tomorrow) So, read, view, comment, and we hope you enjoy all this, and of course, the whole Pendragon series! :)


On the giveaway, folks, there's a couple guidelines:
--if you have google connect, or a blogspot, please sign up to be a follower.

--if you have twitter, facebook, or a blogspot blog, or livejournal, please link to this post.


Other important guidelines (Hatchette's):

-Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win

-No P.O. Boxes, please.

And please leave me your email address so I can get in touch with you, for delivery details! Again, we hope you've enjoyed this little special presentation, enjoy the books, have a great day, and... good luck all!

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A Q and A with Roxanne St. Claire

If you read Romantic Suspense at all, you know the name Roxanne St. Claire--or I hope you do! She is the author of the fabulous Bullet Catchers series. Well, recently I got to meet Ms. St. Claire and this very nice, busy lady, consented to do a Q and A with me, for the Examiner. *happy dance* She's written a ...ton of novels in that series and is now moving on to a new series, coming out in November, so, if you love her, if you're curious about here, feel free to read the full interview over at my Examiner page. Oh, and if you missed it, my review of her novel Hunt Her Down was posted last week, which (if I do this right!) you can read here. I hope you like them!

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Rhonda Stapleton alert

YA author (and really nice gal) Rhonda Stapleton is chatting over at Bitten By Books, right now. Go here, to see it, and a chance to win her latest novel!

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Waiting on Wednesday

For me, it's this one:
The Native Star by M.K. Hobson
September 2010 from Bantam Spectra
Genre: Fantasy 
Witches, trains, and danger....What's not to love? It'll be neat to see this, and I hope, Ms. Hobson does well. :)

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Carrie Vaughn interview at ATUF

All Things Urban Fantasy if you haven't seen it has an interview with Fantasy author Carrie Vaughn (I'm *so* jealous! ;)) Go read it here. Kudos to ATUF for scoring this interview! ;)

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Some nifty cool news!Author visits!

We've got a surprise for y'all. We've got a few scheduled author visits forthcoming this month. First up: Science Fiction Romance author Susan Kearney.

Then we'll be hosting YA and Women's fiction author Susan McBride!


Unfortunately, I don't have firm dates yet, but soon...before the end of the month. :) Keep an eye out!

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How far can a modern novel "reference" a classic before it becomes derivative?

From Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books

She asks: How far can a modern novel "reference" a classic before it becomes derivative? What are some books you think were successful or unsuccessful at referencing or using classic literature? OK, to answer her question.

While I did like Jane Austen Book Club, I don't like rewritten stories, generally, ever. But if we have to do it, it can be done well. Bridget Jones' Diary for instance covered her references to Pride and Prejuidice well. I don't care at all for things like P&P&Zombies. There's too much leaning on Austen there, for my comfort. I'd rather see the author write something original.

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Local booksigning alert

If there are any Tampa area residents reading this blog, there is a multi-author booksigning going on this weekend. You can read about it here.

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